A police convoy in eastern Punjab province was ambushed by gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 officers and injuring seven others, according to authorities.
The attack occurred in the Rahim Yar Khan district, where the officers were patrolling a remote area in search of local robbers.
No group has claimed the attack, but authorities suspect that the assailants were likely robbers rather than militants. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The incident is part of a troubling increase in violence and militant attacks in Pakistan over recent years. However, such a high number of police casualties in a single attack is unusual. Security forces frequently conduct operations against bandits in Punjab and southern Sindh province, where these bandits often operate from rural and forested areas.
Thursday’s attack took place in the Kacha region of Rahim Yar Khan, an area known for harbouring robbers along the Indus River.
The attack was reportedly launched when one of the police vehicles broke down in accumulated rainwater, leaving officers vulnerable to the bandits’ assault. Since July, Pakistan has experienced heavy monsoon rains, contributing to the difficult conditions.
In response to the attack, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the violence and expressed their condolences, referring to the deceased officers as martyrs. Sharif has called for immediate action against those responsible and has demanded top-notch medical care for the wounded officers.
Earlier on Thursday, a separate incident occurred when gunmen targeted a school van in Punjab, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to six others. No group has claimed responsibility for this attack either.
